Taste & See

Zac Wierschem
  • 4.9 (19)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Taste & See is a weekly podcast of heartfelt reflections and meditations on the Sunday readings. Join Zac Wierschem from Paradisus Dei as he guides you into a deeper encounter with Jesus—alongside a global community that prays together each week. Learn more about Paradisus Dei and our life-changing programs at: paradisusdei.org

  1. In Love, At Rest

    3d ago

    In Love, At Rest

    Drawing from Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:25–30, this episode explores how God reveals His deepest truths not to the powerful and self-sufficient, but to those who become like spiritual infants and allow themselves to be loved. Through Interment of Saint Cecilia in the Roman Catacombs by Luis de Madrazo, we discover how St. Cecilia's martyrdom reveals the paradox of the Gospel: that true rest is found not in escaping burdens, but in surrendering them to Christ, who says, "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30). As we conclude the month with an examen, we are invited to become childlike before the Father, receive His love, and find the rest that only Christ can give. Reflection Questions: What burdens have I been carrying that Jesus never asked me to carry alone?What truth might God be trying to reveal in the hidden "catacombs" of my heart?As I begin a new month, what is one concrete step I can take to live more deeply in God's love and rest rather than in anxiety and striving? Here is the link to the sacred art for this week, Interment of Saint Cecilia in the Roman Catacombs by Luis de Madrazo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1moS5EpH4QS-P-wtpYp9Jbd4uCtHNqf8s/view?usp=sharing Here is the link to the Google Slides presentation for experiencing this podcast in a group setting: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19BnLbnxXo1AiDTHBAKuGYQA6rbqUycfdEhmPMc8TShg/edit?usp=sharing Here is the link to the examen that we did for this week: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NVLGy19Kx8Zjl4Jtm0DvshgW0Idg1IH3N96ajtOe0Ak/edit?usp=sharing ________ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    36 min
  2. Beggars for Love

    Jun 23

    Beggars for Love

    In this reflection on Matthew 10:37-42, viewed through Gerrit van Honthorst's The Denial of St. Peter, we encounter Peter stepping away from the candlelight and into darkness as he denies the One he loves most. The episode explores Christ's difficult teaching that we must love Him above all else and reveals that true worthiness is not achieved through our own strength but by begging for and loving with God's own love. Through Peter's failure and eventual repentance, we discover that the path to heaven begins not with self-sufficiency but with becoming humble beggars for divine mercy, grace, and love. Reflection Questions: In what areas of my life am I tempted to hide my relationship with Christ out of fear, comfort, or convenience?If someone examined my daily life, what would they conclude I love most?What is one concrete way I can choose Christ first this week, even if it costs me something? Click here for the sacred art piece of Gerrit van Honthorst's The Denial of St. Peter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S8q9SOOQty4w8Oa8i-giVj8qGsxVa-5z/view?usp=sharing Click here for the Google Slides presentation with the gospel, sacred art piece, and discussion questions for experiencing this as a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ZWt9J1OV7pK8Ee0nq-pBYdhbvAyB3eAyEflHUO2_s24/edit?usp=sharing Click here for the text of the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fs5ckJAxlDLiK6jaxy9tpnA5Qqg6fTYuqSoVwtljdrU/edit?usp=sharing ___ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    34 min
  3. Fearless in Love

    Jun 16

    Fearless in Love

    Through William Bouguereau's Madonna with Child and John the Baptist, we explore Christ's repeated command in Matthew 10 to "do not be afraid" and reveals that true courage flows from knowing we are deeply loved. The childlike affection between Jesus and John, sheltered beneath Mary's maternal gaze, becomes an icon of the trust, vulnerability, and confidence that every Christian is called to possess before God. By remaining close to Christ and His Mother, we can learn to acknowledge the truth without fear, trusting that perfect love is stronger than anxiety, suffering, and even death. Reflection Questions: What fears most frequently occupy your heart right now?What qualities of a childlike heart do you most need to recover?If Mary were speaking directly to your greatest fear, what do you imagine she would say? Click this link to the sacred art piece, William Bouguereau's Madonna with Child and John the Baptist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1itKIpIp9Vj6STTNPv0yJ_Y1AQqZykQv_/view?usp=sharing Click this link for the text of the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FdA2I0YXWlf2AAD7y1Pswy4u8R6fW4Jex8nQTURHzcI/edit?usp=sharing Click this link for the Google Slides Presentation with the sacred art piece, gospel, and reflection questions for viewing as a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1f1gNa3sWvAF46e0fkpK7Qa0-DSr25xY8jSl5oOACKdo/edit?usp=sharing ______ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    35 min
  4. The Answered Prayer

    Jun 9

    The Answered Prayer

    Reflecting on Matthew 9:36–10:8 through Nicolás Francés's painting of the Twelve Apostles, this episode explores how God calls unique individuals into a unified mission for the salvation of souls. The apostles reveal that holiness is not uniformity but a beautiful diversity of gifts, personalities, and vocations united in Christ and His Church. Most powerfully, the episode highlights that the apostles became the answer to their own prayer for laborers, inviting us to recognize that God may also be calling us to become the answer to the prayers we offer today. Reflection Questions: In what ways has God made you unique for a particular mission?Do you see yourself as irreplaceable in God's plan, or do you struggle to believe that?What is one concrete way you can freely give this week what you have freely received from Christ? Here's the link to “The Twelve Apostles" by Nicolás Francés: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WqP2IYdQsiQC9xIqdxLhX82kVm_ykVW4/view?usp=sharing Here's the link to the Presentation to show for a group setting: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mn7S8do6tBg5PWbXqgQRknLcnZ8s_NTEEV90C9Olkso/edit?usp=sharing Here's the link to the text of the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZSc0mZgYGZZ2qxcd4u_n6U591E4VvZJCkjPIIPUgwO0/edit?usp=sharing ______ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    38 min
  5. The Heart That Hungers

    Jun 2

    The Heart That Hungers

    On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, this episode reflects on Jesus’ teaching in John 6: 51-58 and a 15th-century German painting of the Last Supper to explore the mystery of the Eucharist as Christ’s true Body and Blood. Through the artwork’s symbolism, listeners are invited to see Christ as the divine Giver who blesses, breaks, and gives Himself for the life of the world, while recognizing themselves in St. John resting close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The episode emphasizes that Christ enters our brokenness, nourishes us through the Eucharist, and calls us to believe that His Real Presence can transform our lives and lead us to eternal life. Reflection Questions: What stands out most to you about the German Last Supper painting?What does the Sacred Heart devotion reveal about God's love for humanity?If you truly lived every day as though you had received God Himself in Holy Communion, what would change? Here's the link for "The Last Supper" by an unknown master German Artist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pp-sBZPzjK2BvNBvY4rpeTErX_eBi1gb/view?usp=sharing Here's the link for the Google Slides presentation with the sacred art piece and gospel to project for a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uGBMlObfSLXpSC-lZbOCtiM4JbWDVYy0CPj6V0IgZRs/edit?usp=sharing Here's the link to the text of the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-fjHanlTJdNxIl-xKOqs7V27V2MGCSuZgSbnRVBupL8/edit?usp=sharing _______________ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    35 min
  6. A Place at Table

    May 26

    A Place at Table

    This episode reflects on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity through John 3:16–18 and The Hospitality of Abraham by Andrei Rublev, revealing the Trinity not as an abstract doctrine but as a divine communion of love that invites us into relationship. Through the symbolism of the icon—especially the open place at the table—the listener is encouraged to see themselves personally welcomed into the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, especially through the Eucharist and the Mass. The episode culminates in an examen that helps listeners reflect on God’s deeply personal love by placing their own name into John 3:16 and discerning how to respond more fully to God’s invitation. Reflection Questions When you hear John 3:16, what changes in your heart when you place your own name into the verse instead of “the world”?In what moments recently have you experienced God’s love in a personal way?Which Person of the Trinity—Father, Son, or Holy Spirit—do you find easiest to relate to? Which feels most distant? Why? The link to the image of the sacred art piece "The Hospitality of Abraham" by Andrei Rublev: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hEZgSBjHe9_GuZwz_RcX4jP81ztN4b1w/view?usp=sharing The link to the Google Slides presentation with the image and the gospel reading for those experiencing this podcast as a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Edd_-N4Ta_RrynzVBDkc84UUJx-tCtaFgVZzICeUSdY/edit?usp=sharing The link to the examen: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X7bj_fK_n4L7IYAB58nPhOjWT6k5off1E8YVgRd8Ysk/edit?usp=sharing ___________________ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    36 min
  7. Spirit and Silence

    May 19

    Spirit and Silence

    This Pentecost reflection on John 20: 19-23 explores how the Holy Spirit enters into locked and fearful hearts, bringing peace, renewal, and mission, just as Jesus breathed the Spirit upon the disciples in the upper room. Through Félix-Henri Giacomotti’s La Pentecôte, the episode highlights Mary’s central role in moments of divine outpouring and emphasizes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant not to be hoarded, but multiplied through loving service to others. Ultimately, Pentecost is presented not merely as a dramatic event of fire and power, but as a quiet invitation into surrender, silence, and openness to God’s transforming presence. Reflection Questions: What stood out most to you in the description of Giacomotti’s La Pentecôte?Which gift of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord) do you most need right now?What is one concrete way you can “open the locked doors” of your heart to the Holy Spirit this week? The digital image of Giacomotti’s La Pentecôte: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m8ojz6Q60iazgMx9aGlKr43i7SQAWkeB/view?usp=sharing The Text of the Meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOlje2khBZiybRhB97SoXyDhilBvfGv5Amd8EkV6jZI/edit?usp=sharing The link to the Google Slides Presentation to show for a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iaLgzURZ0ZZSuHdYQM4XYvhvBlPxSyEH6pV-tCaA1yo/edit?usp=sharing __________________________ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    33 min
  8. Return to Galilee

    May 12

    Return to Galilee

    Using Rembrandt’s The Ascension of the Lord alongside Matthew 28:16–20, this reflection explores how Christ’s Ascension invites us to lift our hearts toward heaven while remaining rooted in His presence through the Church and the Eucharist. By returning to Galilee—the place of first love for the disciples—Jesus teaches us to revisit the moments of conversion where we first encountered His mercy so that His light can spill into our present darkness. Through sacred art and prayer, we are reminded that Christ ascends not to abandon us, but to bring our wounded humanity home to the Father and remain universally present through the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the Eucharist. Reflection Questions: Why do you think beauty can help us encounter God more deeply?What is your “Galilee”—the place or season where you first encountered God’s love?What is one practical way you can “set your gaze upward” this week toward God and eternity? "The Ascension of the Lord" by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (c. 1636): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mQy9shxW-zStUoGzljasH6LbUEFlaknN/view?usp=drive_link Meditation Link (you can copy and paste if the hyperlink is not available): https://docs.google.com/document/d/19V-ZW7RY0i_AaCalOs0bdDcEOyf0kcFvEaeruz0hTGk/edit?usp=sharing Presentation Link for use as a group (you can copy and paste the link if the hyperlink is not available): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1w03RXkHQwtOBFdFAbg-sqiv1CtC2M21hB0IjMDyHwJ0/edit?usp=sharing ___________ Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here. The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations. Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

    33 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Taste & See is a weekly podcast of heartfelt reflections and meditations on the Sunday readings. Join Zac Wierschem from Paradisus Dei as he guides you into a deeper encounter with Jesus—alongside a global community that prays together each week. Learn more about Paradisus Dei and our life-changing programs at: paradisusdei.org

Information

  • Creator
    Zac Wierschem
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    91
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Zac Wierschem
  • Show Website
    Taste & See

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